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MaineLD 1616132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)House

An Act to Eliminate Requirements for Drivers to Surrender Their Physical Driver's Licenses During a Temporary Suspension

Sponsored By: Lydia Crafts (Democratic)

Became Law

OPERATORS LICENSESOPERATORS LICENSES - SUSPENSION

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.

180-day license loss for some juveniles

For certain juvenile offenses, the court suspends the teen’s license for 180 days. The suspension cannot be put on hold. The court takes the physical license and gives notice. It must immediately send a certified record and the license to the Secretary of State.

Faster suspensions and tougher penalties

Your suspension starts when the judge announces the sentence. For each day you are late turning in your license, two extra suspension days are added. Refusing to sign the notice or not surrendering without good cause is a Class E crime and treated as strict liability. Related suspension offenses are also strict liability. Police must take suspended licenses and plates they find during a stop and send them to the Secretary of State.

Up to 5-year license suspensions for drug crimes

If the court finds you used a vehicle to help commit certain drug crimes, it can suspend your license for up to 5 years. The suspension starts after any jail time ends. The court takes your license and tells the Secretary of State. You must show you finished the post-release suspension before the state will reinstate your license.

Courts must take and send licenses

When your license is suspended, the court takes the physical card and gives you notice. This includes out‑of‑state or foreign licenses if you live or work in Maine. If the court cannot take the card at sentencing, the license becomes void at the time in the order. The court must quickly send the license and a certified record to the Secretary of State. If you prove the state already restored your license after an earlier administrative OUI suspension for the same facts, the court does not take the card; old subsections are repealed to match this process.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Lydia Crafts

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. ACTPUB Chapter 173

    5/1/2026

  2. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.

    5/27/2025Senate

  3. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    5/27/2025House

  4. Report READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.READ ONCEUnder suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED, in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith.

    5/21/2025Senate

  5. CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAYUnder suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    5/20/2025House

  6. Received by the Clerk of the House on April 11, 2025.The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.

    4/11/2025House

Bill Text

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